About The Band

About The Band

“They are Jerry’s kindred spirits when it comes to making music.”

“The Garcia Project is a must-see for anyone who had the good fortune of seeing Jerry’s band live. I was lucky enough to share the JGB experience with Jerry, John Kahn, Maria Muldaur, Keith and Donna. Being on stage with Mik, Kat, Dan and the crew is the closest thing to the original.  They are Jerry’s kindred spirits when it comes to making music. Even if you never saw JGB live, you can see and hear their spirit at a Garcia Project performance.” – Buzz Buchanan, Drummer for The Jerry Garcia Band 1977-1978

Mik Bondy of The Garcia Project, A Jerry Garcia Band Tribute Band or Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band

Mik Bondy of The Garcia Project with the Cripe Tribute, built for Jerry Garcia ©2016 Jay Blakesberg

Mik Bondy – Guitar & Vocals

Mik Bondy fills the “Jerry” role with modesty and an understanding that no one can replace Jerry – but that we all together can rejoice in his music. Mik has three tribute guitars (gifted to him personally by Andy Logan, owner of Jerry’s Alligator guitar and Founder of the Grateful Guitars Foundation) and hand built and modded recreations of Jerry’s actual guitar amps, effects and speakers. Mik loves to create music and art, and he can really feel the music when he’s performing. A long time Jerry-head, Mik enjoyed the last few years of Jerry’s life (87-95) following the Jerry Garcia Band around whenever he could. Mik has guested on guitar and vocals with Melvin Seals and JGB and has performed in front of Phil Lesh and with Tom “TC” Constanton, Maria Mulduar and Buzz Buchanan.

Mik uses DR Strings exclusively and is a FEATURED ARTIST for DR STRINGS!

Mik’s Rig Fall 2023


Kat Walkerson, singer for The Garcia Project, the nationally touring Jerry Garcia Band cover band or tribute band, performing “The Strange Man”, by Dorthy Love Coates.

Kat Walkerson – Vocals

Kat Walkerson adds heartfelt and soulful female vocals to the mix. She brings an awesome energy to the project and you can feel her love for this music though her singing. She exudes positive vibes and her smiles are a testament to her appreciation of the music. Kat has performed as vocalist for Melvin Seals and JGB and has been a guest vocalist with Dark Star Orchestra.


Dan F Crea – Bass

Dan brings a background in academic music theory, jazz, rock, and playing old and new country in smokey road houses across the upper Midwest as well as a thorough study of both John Kahn and Phil Lesh.  He uses two customized Fender Precisions like Kahn used from ’74 to ’81, with Fender necks, Warmoth bodies, LaBella flatwound strings, and EMG electronics with a modified Steinberger Sprit with full EMG system and Steinberger flatwounds for the late 80’s early 90’s shows.  With the Acoustically Speaking Trio he uses a Palatino electric upright bass.


Guests of The Garcia Project have included:

Maria Muldaur, Jerry Garcia Band
Buzz Buchanan, Jerry Garcia Band
Melvin Seals, Jerry Garcia Band
Jacklyn LaBranch, Jerry Garcia Band
Peter Rowan, Old And In The Way
Tom Constanten, The Grateful Dead
Jacob Jolliff, Yonder Mountain String Band
Andy Falco, Infamous String Dusters
Lisa Mackey, Dark Star Orchestra
Tom Circosta, The Zen Tricksters
Klyph Black, The Zen Tricksters
Ryan Montbleau, The Ryan Montbleau Band

GET EXCLUSIVE CONCERT LIVE STREAMS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, EARLY BIRD TIX AND MORE BY SUPPORTING THE GARCIA PROJECT ON PATREON – Click this link and sign up to help our mission and get great perks:
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Song List (songs performed by The Jerry Garcia Band and The Garcia Project):

Name Artist
Accidentally Like a Martyr Warren Zavon
Ain’t No Bread In The Breadbox Norton Buffalo
After Midnight J.J. Cale
All By Myself Dave Bartholomew / Fats Domino
Amazing Grace Traditional
And It Stoned Me Van Morrison
Bird Song Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Bright Side Of The Road Van Morrison
Catfish John Bob McDill / Allen Reynolds
Cats Under The Stars Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia
China Doll Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Comes A Time Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Crazy Love Van Morrison
Deal Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Dear Prudence John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Deep Elem Blues Traditional
Don’t Let Go Jesse Stone
Drifting Too Far From The Shore Charles E. Moody
Evangeline David Hidalgo / Louis Perez
Every Word You Say Jesse Winchester
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love Bert Berns / Solomon Burke / Jerry Wexler
Expressway (To Your Heart) Kenny Gamble / Leon Huff
Finders Keepers General Johnson / Jeffrey Bowen
Forever Young Bob Dylan
Freight Train Elizabeth Cotton
Franklin’s Tower Jerry Garcia / Bill Kreutzmann / Robert Hunter
Friend Of The Devil Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter / John Dawson
Get Out of My Life, Woman Allen Toussaint
Goodnight Irene Traditional
Going, Going, Gone Bob Dylan
Gomorrah Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
He Ain’t Give You None Van Morrison
Hi-Heel Sneakers Robert Higginbotham
House Of The Rising Sun Traditional
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) Brian Holland / Lamont Dozier / Eddie Holland
I Hope It Won’t Be This Way, Always Barbara Allison
I’ll Be With Thee Dorothy Love Coates
I’ll Take A Melody Allen Toussaint
I’m Troubled Traditional
I Saw Her Standing There John Lennon / Paul McCartney
I Second That Emotion William Robinson / Al Cleveland
I Shall Be Released Bob Dylan
I Want To Tell You George Harrison
I’ve Been All Around This World Traditional
It Must Have Been The Roses Robert Hunter
It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry Bob Dylan
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue Bob Dylan
It Ain’t No Use Jerry Williams / Gary Bonds / Don Hollinger
It’s Too Late Chuck Willis
Jack-A-Roe Traditional
Jack Straw Bob Weir / Robert Hunter
Johnny Too Bad Winston Bailey / Hylton Beckford / Derrick Crooks / Trevor Wilson
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door Bob Dylan
Lay Down Sally Eric Clapton / Marcella Levy / George Terry
Lazy Bones Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
Leave The Little Girl Alone John Kahn / Robert Hunter
Let It Rock Chuck Berry
Let Me Roll It Paul McCartney
Let’s Spend The Night Together Mick Jagger / Keith Richards
Like A Road Leading Home Don Nix / Dan Penn
Little Sadie Traditional
Long Black Veil Danny Dill / Marijohn Wilkin
Lonesome and A Long Way From Home Delaney Bramlett / Bonnie Bramlett / Leon Russell
Loser Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Louis Collins Traditional
Love In The Afternoon Robert Hunter / John Kahn
Magnificent Sanctuary Band Dorsey Burnette
Merl’s Tune Merl Saunders / John White
Midnight Moonlight Peter Rowan
Might As Well Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Mighty High David Crawford / Richard Downing
Mission In The Rain Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Mississippi Moon Peter Rowan
Money Honey Jesse Stone
Moonlight Mile Mick Jagger / Keith Richards
My Funny Valentine Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart
My Sisters And Brothers Charles Johnson
Mystery Train Junior Parker / Sam Philips
Neighbor, Neighbor Alton Joseph Valier
Not Fade Away Norman Petty / Buddy Holly
Oh Babe It Ain’t No Lie Traditional / Elizabeth Cotton
One Kind Favor Traditional
Palm Sunday Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Positively 4th Street Bob Dylan
Ramble On Rose Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Rain Donna Godchaux
Ragged But Right Traditional
(I’m A) Road Runner Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland / Eddie Holland
Rhapsody In Red Robert Hunter / John Kahn / Jerry Garcia
Ripple Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Rosalie McFall Charlie Monroe
Reuben And Cerise Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Run For The Roses Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia
Russian Lullaby Irving Berlin
See What Love Can Do Jerry Lynn Williams
Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power) Bob Dylan
Shady Grove Jerry Garcia / David Grisman
Shakedown Street Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
She Belongs To Me Bob Dylan
Shining Star Leo Graham / Paul Richmond
Simple Twist Of Fate Bob Dylan
Sing Me Back Home Merle Haggard
Sitting In Limbo Jimmy Cliff / Guilly Bright
So What Miles Davis
Someday Baby Traditional / Sleepy John Estes / Lightning Hopkins
Stagger Lee Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Standin’ on the Corner [Blue Yodel No. 9] Jerry Garcia / Bill Kreutzmann / Phil Lesh / Ron McKernan / Bob Weir
Strange Man Dorothy Love Coates
Stir It Up Bob Marley
Strugglin Man Jimmy Cliff
Sugaree Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot Traditional
Talkin’ ‘Bout You Ray Charles
Tangled Up In Blue Bob Dylan
Tears Of Rage Bob Dylan / Richard Manuel
That Lucky Old Sun Haven Gillespie / Beasley Smith
That’s A Touch I Like Jesse Winchester
That’s All Right, Mama Arthur Crudup
That’s What Love Will Make You Do Milton Campbell / Henderson Thigpen / James Banks / Eddy Marion
The Harder They Come Jimmy Cliff
The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game William Robinson
The Maker Daniel Lanois
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Robbie Robertson
The Way You Do the Things You Do William Robinson / Robert Rogers
The Wheel Jerry Garcia / Robert Hunter / Bill Kreutzmann
They Love Each Other Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia
Think Jimmy McCracklin / Deadric Malone
Throw Out The Lifeline Edwin Ufford
To Lay Me Down Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia
Tomorrow Is Forever Robert Hunter
Tore Up Over You Hank Ballard
Tough Mama Bob Dylan
Twilight Robbie Robertson
Valerie Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia
Visions Of Johanna Bob Dylan
Waiting For A Miracle Bruce Cockburn
Werewolves Of London LeRoy Marinell / Waddy Wachtell / Warren Zevon
What A Wonderful World Weiss / Thiele
When I Paint My Masterpiece Bob Dylan
Who Was John Mitchell’s Christian Singers
Wild Horses The Rolling Stones
You Never Can Tell Chuck Berry
You Win Again Hank Williams

The Garcia Project’s performances are recreations of full, classic Jerry Garcia Band set lists from 1976-1995. More than just a Jerry Garcia Band Tribute Band or Jerry Garcia Cover Band, using thoughtful arrangements and the proper instrumentation and feel, The Garcia Project faithfully channels and projects the feelings, emotions and music that propelled the Jerry Garcia Band and their fans through the years.

For anyone that never had a chance to experience the Jerry Garcia Band or for fans that want to relive a classic show, The Garcia Project delivers.

The Garcia Project has received rave reviews from the press and from fans. Touring across the country, The Garcia Project has made many fans extremely happy.

The Garcia Project is THE Jerry Garcia Band Tribute Band or Jerry Garcia Band Cover Band – and it’s about family, soul searching, rejoicing, contemplating, celebrating, seeking truth and loving one another.

"I spent a lot of nights in a lot of places with the Jerry Garcia Band, and I’m here to say that I really enjoy what The Garcia Project does with those memories. Mik’s guitar and his and Kat’s vocals stir up some very sweet vibes…some times they almost make me feel like I’m back in, say, 1992 at the Warfield. Check ‘em out." — Dennis McNally, former publicist for the Jerry Garcia BandI spent a lot of nights in a lot of places with the Jerry Garcia Band, and I’m here to say that I really enjoy what The Garcia Project does with those memories.  Mik’s guitar and his and Kat’s vocals stir up some very sweet vibes…some times they almost make me feel like I’m back in, say, 1992 at the Warfield.  Check ‘em out. — Dennis McNally, former publicist for the Jerry Garcia Band

“For those of us who crave late 70’s (and through the 80’s and 90’s) Jerry Garcia Band, The Garcia Project scratches that itch for hearing live renditions of JGB shows from that period.”
— Bob Minkin, legendary Grateful Dead and Jerry Band rock photographer

“The Garcia Project was on point with the whole experience and it didn’t seem like a cover band more like a mirrored band…they are just as real as the Jerry Garcia Band. “ – Buffalo FM Review

“For those of us who crave late 70’s (and through the 80’s and 90’s) Jerry Garcia Band, The Garcia Project scratches that itch for hearing live renditions of JGB shows from that period.”
— Bob Minkin, legendary Grateful Dead and Jerry Band rock photographer

“The Garcia Project’s attention to detail on intonation and performance structure does set them apart as an authority on Jerry Garcia.” – NYSMUSIC

“If you close your eyes, you’ll swear you are at a Jerry Garcia Band show.” – ecoLocal Magazine

“The Garcia Project’s attention to detail on intonation and performance structure does set them apart as an authority on Jerry Garcia.” – NYSMUSIC

“it was hard to tell that it wasn’t Jerry signing on “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.”” – NYSMUSIC

“In order for a tribute band to be successful, fans need to look at them as the authority on the artist they are emulating. The Garcia Project pulls it off effortlessly. Go see them live …The Garcia Project is the whole package.” – Upstate Live

GET EXCLUSIVE CONCERT LIVE STREAMS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS, EARLY BIRD TIX AND MORE BY SUPPORTING THE GARCIA PROJECT ON PATREON – Click this link and sign up to help our mission and get great perks:
https://www.patreon.com/thegarciaproject